Tilling machinery of the rotary type



Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT'T opriep-. "i

Application october 9, 193s,`,seria1No. 692,834 1 In Great Britain February 3, 1933 l n 16 Claims. This invention relates to tilling machinery in Vwhich rotating tilling instruments are mounted to bedr-iven about axes slightly inclined tothe vertical. l

The object of the invention is to provide a small low cost tilling attachment comprising tilling implements of the above mentioned type which can be attached to and drawn by a tractor and in which the revolving tillers of the attachm ment are driven by power derived from the motor of the tractor. ,A f

Many of the farms where this type of tilling is desirable are too small and have notenough of this type of tilling to be` done to make the 1r, self contained tilling machine with its own driving motor a paying proposition, but many of such farms are equipped with tractors for doing various cultivation jobs and an` attachment according to the present invention would be a useful adjunct for such tractor.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:- 1

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the attachmentwith certain parts omitted and broken away for clearer illustration.

Fig.2 is a sectional side elevation taken more lor less through a centre line of the attachment.

Fig. 3 is a detail view.

I is the main frame of the machine which is supported on an axle 2 and land Wheels 3, 4. At the forward end of the main frame, the side members are bent inwardly to receive a bearing 5, the frame being tied together by suitable transverse members such as 6, 1 and 8. The rear p ends of the main frame side members are provided with jaws 9, I which receive they ends II, I2 of the tiller frame side plates I5, I6, which endsare held in place by pins I3,-|4 respectively. The tiller frame comprises the two .side plates I5 and I6 which .are tied together by -transverse members, |1, I8, I9, and. 2|, the member 2| being best sho n in Fig. 3.- Under the rear of the tiller frame is a plate 22rwhich extendsforward to the tra sverse member i8, F and to the rear and sides anevendistance `vfrom the centres of the tiller spindles 23,l 24 and just beyond thetiller gears 25. This plate forms the base of a gear case 26 and is provided with two bearings 21, of which only one is shown in Fig. 2.

50'To the rear of the gear case 26 and mounted on the plate 22 are two-bearings 28 which are also secured to the side plates |5, 'I6 and the transverse member 20. Two longitudinal members 30 and 3| in the gear case 26 are provided 55 Vwith bearings 300, 30| respectively to carry a (Cl. 97-43) shaft 32 which is shown cutaway in Fig. 1 in order to show the position of one of the `tiller driving pinions 33. The transverse members I1,

I8 are provided with centrally locatedbearings |10, |89 respectively which carry a shaft 34 here- 5 inafter referred to as the intermediate shaft on the forwardend of which isvkeyed a universal joint 35 and therear enda bevel pinion 36 which meshes with a bevel gear 31. The shaft ,32 is keyed into the `bevel gear 31 and isalso provided at its ends with bevel pinions 38, only one beingshown in Fig. 1. .Meshing with Apinions 38.are gears 39 (one of which only is shown in Fig. 1) keyed to the upper ends of shafts v4I) on which are alsokeyed pinions 33, which latter mesh with the tiller`-g``ars`25- On the lower side of, tiller gears 25, rings 42 are provided 'to which the earth workingv tools 43 are attached. To the rearof the tiller frame is attached a bar |43 slightly inclined to thevertical to the lower end of which is attached `a horizontal underground shoe or runner4| (Fig. 2).` This shoe is pivoted to the plate- 22 at.4 5 and held in adjusted position `by a pin or bolt passing through the bracket 44 and bar |43. l p

In Fig. 2 the outline of the rear part of a conventional tractor is shown'at 41. Extending from the rear of thetractor are two arms `48', 49 best shown in Fig. 1. The rear `ends of thesearms are provided with jaws-480, 490 respectivelyK to receive a gimbleringv 50 which issecured thereto by pins 5I,` 52 to .permit a vertical hinging movement. Secured onthe upper and lower sides `of ring 50 by pins l53, `54are jawed ends 559 of a draft connection 55 of the main frame ypermitting 'a horizontal swinging movement. The draw bar connection 55 basa-.tubular rearward extensionk 55| which is rotatably, mounted in bearings 5 and 56 on the main frame I and held 'against longitudinal movement by a: collar 51 abutting againstr the bearing4 5 but is permitted `to rotate in its'bearingsthereby permitting a torsional movement between Athe tractor and the tilling machine, A bearing 58.` mounted in ther 'rear wall of thetdraw bar connectionl 55 vconcentric with bearing 5 carries a primary transy mission shaftA 59 (Fig. 2) having keyed on its forward enda `double vuniversal joint .60 which transmits,I the tractors ymotor power fromthe power! take off shaft 6I. The tilling tools of the type illustrated operate best atza speed which is much below the lowest speed whichfcan be obtained by an ordinary transmissioninl a tractor.

In this instance, the desired. low speed may be one of several holes in thev25 obtained either by building in a special low speed transmission or by using an auxiliary transmission of suitable type. The rear end of shaft 59 passes through a gear box 62 carried at its forward end by a spigot 62D engaging in bearing 56 (Fig. 2) and at the rear by side arms 62| secured to the side frames I (Fig. 1). The shaft 59 has rotatably mounted on its forward end within the gear box 62 a clutch cone 63 which carries a sprocket 64. On the other end of said shaft and within the gear box 62 is a clutch cone 65 on which is secured a spur gear 66. Between the cones 63 and 65 and splined onto shaft 59; to permit a sliding movement, is the double ended clutch element 61 to cooperate with either one of the clutch cones 63 or 65 and within its centrally located groove, is a shifter fork 68which is` actuated by lever 69 connected to rod 10. 'Onthe forward end of rod 10 is an eye 100 fitting over a downward protruding pin 10| carried on the lower face of a double ended lever'1I. The lever 1| is pivotally mounted in a bracket 14 bolted to the top ofthe gear case 62, control ropes 12, 13 being attached to the ends of lever 1|, the free ends of said ropes being carried in proximity to the drivers seat. i y

A shaft 15 carried in bearings-150 in the gear case 62 has keyed to its forward end a sprocket -16 in line with sprocket 64, said sprockets being connected by a chain drive l64|). At its rear end said shaft 15 has keyed thereto a gear 11 meshing with gear 66. To the rear of the gear'case 62 and keyed to shaft 15 is a universal coupling 18 to which is secured avscrew shaft 19 carried in bearing best shown inFig. 2. The bearing 80 is provided with side trunnion lugs 800 (Fig. 1) on the same centre line as the universal coupling 18, the trunnions having bearings 80| in the frame members 8|, 82. The rear end of screw' shaft 19 passes through aftrunnion nut 83, the trunnions having their bearings in the tiller side frames I5 and I6 (Fig. 3). Extending upwards on trunnion nut 83 is an eye 84 through which passes a rod 85, the forward end of which connects with the rod 10 and on each' side of said eye 84 are set collars 86, 81.

On each side ofthe machine and connecting between the tiller frame and main frame are springs 88 only one being shown in Fig. 2 which act to `carry part of the weight of the tiller frame and thus reduce the load on the depth'runner 46. At the rear of the gearcase 62 and keyed onto the primarytransmission shaft 59 is the fixed half of a dog -clutch l89the other half being mounted on the splined end of a secondary transmission shaft 90 whichlatter shaft 90 is carried in bearings 900 in members 1 and 8, its rear end -being keyed into the universal coupling 35.

The clutch 89 is actuated by a lever'890 connected to a rod 89|, the forward end of which is connected to a double ended lever 892 pivoted on the bracket 14. Control ropes 893, 894 are attached to the ends of the double ended lever 892, theA free ends of said ropes being carried in proximity to the drivers seat. i

The drive from the tractor to the` tillers'is effected as follows: l

Power `is applied from the tractor shaft 6| through the flexible coupling 60, primary transmission shaft 59, dog clutch 89, secondary transmissionshaft 90, universal joint35, shaft 34 to pinion 36 which drives .gear 31, shaft 32 and pinions 38. The pinions 38 mesh with gears 39 which drive pinions 33 through shafts 40 and pinions 33 drive the tiller `gears 25, and consequently the tilling implements which are secured to the tiller rings 42 are driven around their axes.

To raise the tiller frame with the earth working tools, the control rope 13 is pulled, actuating lever 1I and forcing rod 1D rearwardly thus engaging clutch element 61 with clutch cone 65 and driving screw shaft 19 through universal joint 18, shaft 15, and gears 66, 11. While thus being driven, the thread on the. screw shaft is of the proper hand to screw into trunnion nut 83 and force the tiller frame upwardly about its hinging axis I3, I4. As the tillers are rising, the trunnion nut 83 will be moved along the shaft 1 9 and its eye 84 will be moved down rod until it comes in contact with the collar clamp 86. Continued movement of the nut then will force clutch element 61 into a neutral position through the actuating lever 69 and'rods 19 and 85 to lower the tiller frame, control rope 12 is pulled and clutch element 61 is brought in contact with clutch conev63 thus giving a reverse motion to the screw shaft 19 through chain drive 64|) connecting sprockets 64 and 16. The'collar 81 is set so thatwhen the desired depth has been reached by the tillers, the Atrunnion nut 83 pushes against collar 81 and clutch61-is neutralized through the intermediate parts.

In tilling some types ofvsoil it is advantageous to drive the tillers in 'an opposite direction to their usual one, for which purpose the shaft y32 with its pinions 38 and gear 31 is so designed that it can be reversed in its bearings and thus put gear 31 on thel other side of the drivingpin- `ion 36thus reversing the direction of rotation of shaft 32 and tillers 43.

Bearing -80 lwith its trunnion support is provided to transfer the load from the lifting-.screw to the main frame.

It will be seen that the pins I3 and I4 are co-l 'universal connection 60, so that the main frame may move freely either horizontally or vertically with respect to the tractor without `disturbing'the driving connection between the tractor and the mechanism on the main frame.

While. I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form, it is to be understood that various changes in details may be made without departing from .the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

- What I claim' as my invention and desire to secure by ,Letters Patent of the United States 1. A -rotary tilling attachment for a tractor having apower take-off connection, comprising a mainframe mounted on land wheels, a flexible connection for connecting said attachment to the tractor, a vertically swingableframe suspended from the rear of the main frame, rotatory earth working implements mounted on said vertically swingableframe, a primary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, means for driving said primary transmission shaft fromithe tractor `power take-off connection, a secondary transmission shaft mounted on` said main frame, clutch means interposed between said primary and secondary transmission shafts, an intermediate shaft carried by said vertically swingable .,frame, a flexible coupling connecting ysaid inter- -.termediate shaft for driving the earth working implements and power driven means operated from one of said transmission shafts for lifting or lowering said vertically swingable frame.

2. A rotary tilling attachment for a tractor having a power take-off connection, comprising a main frame mounted on land wheels, a exible connectionv for connecting said attachment to the tractor, a vertically swingable frameV suspended fromthe rear of the main frame, rotatory earth working implements mounted on said vertically swingable frame,k a primary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, means for driving said primaryl transmission shaft from the tractor power take-off connection, a secondary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, clutch means interposed between said primary and secondary transmission shafts, an intermediate shaft carried by said vertically swingable frame, a fl-exible coupling connecting said intermediate shaft to the secondary transmission shaft, gearing adapted to be driven by said 'intermediate shaft for driving the earth working implements and means including a controllable connection to fsaid primary transmission shaft for lifting or lowering said vertically swingable frame.

3. A rotary 'tilling attachment for a tractor having a power take-off connection, comprising a main frame mounted on land wheels, a flexible connection for connecting said attachment to the tracto-r, a vertically swingable frame suspend-ed from the rear of the main frame, rotatory earth working implements mounted on said vertically swingable frame, a primary transmission shaft mountedv on said main frame, means for driving said primary transmission shaft Afrom the tractor power take-off connection, a secondary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, clutch means interposed between said primary and secondary transmission shafts, an intermediate shaft carried by said vertically swingable frame, a flexible coupling connecting said intermediate shaft to the secondary transmission shaft, gearing adapted to be driven by Vsaid intermediate shaft for driving thefearth working implements, power, driven means for lifting or lowering said vertically swingable frame including clutches interposed on said `primary transmission shaft, one of which is adapted to transmit power to lift the vertically swingable frame and the other to lower said frame, andv means for controlling said clutches.

4. A rotary tilling attachment for a tractor having a power take-off connection, comprising a main frame mounted on land wheels, a flexible connection for connecting said attachment to the tractor, a vertically swingable frame suspended from the rear of the main frame, rotatory earth working implements mounted on said vertically swingable frame, a primary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, means for driving said primary transmission shaft from the tractor power take-off connection, a secondary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, clutch means interposed between said primary and secondary transmission shafts, an intermediate shaft carried by said vertically swingable frame, a flexible coupling connecting said intermediate shaft to the secondary transmission shaft, gearing adapted to be driven by said intermediate shaft for driving the earth working implements, power driven means for lifting o iL.

lowering said vertically swingable frame and means for automatically stopping the lifting or lowering means when the desired height or depth has been attained.

A rotaryrtillingl attachment fora tractor having a power take-off connection, comprising a main frame mounted on land wheels, a flexible connection for connecting said ,attachment to Vthe tractor, a vertically'fswingable Vframe suspended from the rear ofv the main frame, rotatory earth working implements mounted on said-vertically swingable frame, aprimary transmission shaft mounted on said-main frame, meansv for'driving said primary transmission shaft." froml the tractor power v,take-off connection,v a' secondary transmission shaft mounted on' saidl main frame, clutch means interposed` between saidL primary and secondary Atransmission shafts, an intermediateV shaft carried by.

said vertically swingable frame, a.' flexible coupling connecting said intermediate shaft to the secondarytransmission shaft, gearing adapted to be driven by said intermediate shaft for driving the earth worlingimplements, power driven means for lifting or `lowering said vertically swingable frame including clutches interposed on said primary transmission shaft, one of which is adapted to transmit power to lift the vertically swingable frame and the' othernto` lower said frame, means for controlling said Iclutches and means automatically disconnecting said clutches when the rdesired height or depth has been attained.

(i.v A rotary tilling attachment for a tractor having a power take-offv connection, 'comprising a main frame mounted on land wheels, a flexible connection for connecting said attachment' to the tractor, a vertically swingable frame suspended from the rear of the mainframe, rotatory learth working implementsjmounted on said vertically swingable frame, .ya primary transmission shaft mounted on said vmain frame, means for driving said primary transmission shaft from the tractor power take-off connection, a'secondary transmission shaft mounted on said main frame, clutch means interposed betweenl said primary and secondary transmission shafts, an intermedivate shaft carried by said` vertically swingable frame, a flexible coupling connecting said intermediate shaft to the secondary transmission shaft, gearing adapted 'to be set and to be driven by said intermediate shaftfor driving the VVearth working implements in the one or the other direction and means for lifting or lowering said vertically swingable frame.

v"Z, In combination,'a tractor power take-olf, a tilling attachmenthaving a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connectV said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured to said main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilling/tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, 'a connection between said take-off and't'ools to operate said tools from said take-off, means to raise and lower said tiller frame on its pivot while said connection is maintained, and means to actuate said raising and lowering means from said take-off.

8. In combination, a tractor power take-off, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured to said main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilgl/il'lgY tools rotatably mounted onsaidtillerffraie, a" connection between said .take-off and tools to operate said tools from said take-off, means to raise and lower said tiller frame on its pivot while saidoonnection is maintained, means to actuate said raising and lowering means from said take-ofi, and means to automatically render said actuating means inoperative when the tiller frame has been raised or lowered to the ydesired position.

9, In combination, a tractor power take-off, a vtilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect lsaid frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured to said main frame on a. horizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, a connection between/said take-off and tools to operate said tools from said take-01T, means to raise and lower said tiller frame on its pivot while said connection is maintained, means to actuate said raising and lowering means from said take-off, and meansn to automatically render said actuating means inoperative when the tiller frame has been raised to the desired position.

10. In combination, a tractor vpower take-off, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means toconnect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby', a tiller frame secured to said main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, a connection between said takeoff and tools to operate said tools from said take-Y off, means to raise and lower said tiller frame on its pivot while said connection is maintained, means to actuate said raising and lowering means from said take-off, and means to automatically render said actuating means inoperative when the tiller frame has been lowered to the desired position.

.11. In combination, a tractor power take-off, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured to said main frame on a horizontallyextending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on 4 said tiller frame, means to operate said tools from said take-off, a connection between said take-01T and said tiller frame and including two clutches, one `adapted to raise and the other to lowervthe tiller frame by movement on its pivot, and means to render either one of said clutches operative.

12. In combination, a tractor power take-off, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land` wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be. propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured to said main frame on ahorizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, means to operate said tools from said take-oil, a connection between said Ytake-off and said ytiller framev and including two clutches, one adapted to raise and the other to lower the tiller frame by movement on its pivot, means to render either one of said clutches operative, and means to automatically disconnect either clutch when the tiller frame has reached the desired position.

13. In combination, `a tractor power take-oil, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured tosaid main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, means to operate said tools from said take-off, means to raise and lower said tiller frame on'its pivot, and means to actuate said raising and lowering means from said take-ofi'. l l 14. In combination, a tractor power take-off, a tillingattachment having a main fr'ame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame secured to said main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, means to operate' said tools from said take-oil', means to raise and lower said tiller frame on its pivot, means to actuate-said raising and lowering means from said take-ofi', and means to automatically render said actuating means inoperative when the tiller frame has' been vraised or lowered to the desired position.

15. In combination, a tractor power take-olf, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller'frame secured to said main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, means to operate said tools from said take-off, means to raise and`lowersaid tiller frame on itspivot, means tol actuate said raising and lowering means Afrom said take-011'.:

and means to automatically render said actuating means inoperative when the tiller frame has been raised to the desired position.

16. In combination, a tractor power take-off, a tilling attachment having a main frame mounted upon land wheels, means to connect said frame to a tractor to be propelled thereby, a tiller frame lsecured to said main frame on a horizontally extending pivot, tilling tools rotatably mounted on said tiller frame, means to operate said tools from said take-01T, means to raise and lower said tiller I frame on its pivot, means to actuate said raising and lowering means from said take-off, and means to automatically render said actuating means inoperative when the tiller frame has been lowered to the desired position;

1 NORMAN CHOATE STOREY. 

